Display package



A. A. SOBEL DISPLAY PACKAGE July 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1961 NVENTOR. QLVIN Q. 8055!.

QTTGENEY A. A. SOBEL DISPLAY PACKAGE July 20, 1965 INVENTOR. QLVIN Q. sOBEL BY Q T TO EN E V A. A. SOBEL DISPLAY, PACKAGE July 20, 1965 Filed May 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALWN Q. SOBEL. BY

A. A. SOBEL DISPLAY PACKAGE July 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 5, 1961 I "INVENTQR. mm S DES-EL BY 1 BdhSQlld Patented July 2G, I965 3,195,718 DISILAY PAQIKAGE Alvin A. Eobei, Rat-sinus, NJ assignor to Coronet Iaper 3ltlorporation, (Iarlstadt, Ni, a corporation of New ersey Filed May 5, 1951, Ser. No. 197,980 11 Claims. (Cl. 20-3-d5.32)

My invention relates to display packages and in particular to those display packages which are used for pies. More specifically, my invention is directed toward providing display packages which may be used for closed and open pies and which may be stacked one above the other.

In the prior art there have been many pie packages which were equipped with transparent tops. This enabled the merchant to display the package contents in an inviting and appetizing manner. These display packages are commonly used in stores, markets and similar locations to encourage sale of the products. Up to now, it has not been possible to provide transparent top, pie packages which are capable of being stacked in a pile without the danger of damaging the contents. This is more likely to happen with open pies than with closed pics but there is danger of squashing both types of pies when many types of the prior art display packages are stacked.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide a pie display package wmch is capable of being stacked above or below a similar package without any damage to the contents.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a display package wherein a foot at the lower periphery of one package nests with a bead or similar protuberance on the periphery of a second package which is placed below the first package.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide such a display package wherein the bead and foot are carried by the band which encircles the pie plate.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a portion of the strip from which the bands of my invention, which are used to enclose the plates in which closed pics are contained, are formed,

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 2A is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 2 or" a modified form of strip of my invention,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a closed pie container of my invention,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a stack of closed pie, display packages of my invention,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing an embodiment of my invention for use with open pies,

FIGURES 7 and 8 are views similar to that of F1- URE 4 showing a still further embodiment of my invention for use with open pies,

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 of a still further embodiment of my invention, and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to that or a single package of FIGURE 6 of a still further embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shown preferred embodiments of display pie plate packages and outer bands therefor of my invention, the numeral It) generally designates the outer band for a closed pie package. In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a strip of outer bands as they would appear during manufacture before being separated for use. Outer bands of my invention are formed as shown in FIGURE 1. Substantially closed beads 12 are formed at the outer edges of flat strips 14. Strips 26 are affixed to strips 1 by gluing or similar methods as shown at 15 in FIGURE 2. Beads 16 and 3d are formed in strips 14 and 26 and inweirdly-projecting flanges 28 are formed at the outer edges of strips 26. The paired bands are scored or similarly treated at l8, 19, 22 and 24.

After the combined bands 1% are formed as shown in FIGURE 1, they are separated longitudinally along scoring 18. Then the single strips are separated along scoriugs 19. The user then has a single band It) wherein beads to and 3%) have been divided in half leaving a foot 33. Cuts 2 9 are provided in band it) to permit the bands ends to be joined when it is applied to a pie plate or similar device. After the single band has been separated from the balance of the strip the small portions at each end defined by scorings 22 and 24 are removed. These portions are removed so that the head 12 and foot 31 will not overlap and bulge when the ends of the band are joined around a plate.

Band It is intended for use with so-called closed or two crust pies. In FIGURE 4 I have illustrated the manner in which it is applied to a pie plate containing a two crust pie. Pie 36 having upper crust 39 and lower crust 37 is contained in pie plate 34 which has an outward flange 35. Sheet 321, which is usually formed of transparent material such as cellulose acetate, is laid over pie plate 34 so that it overlaps the edges of outward flange 35. Band lil is placed around pie plate 34- so that inwardly-turned annular flange 28 engages with outward flange 35 and is locked in position thereby. Sheet 32 is held in position between flanges 2S and 35. The ends of band it) are joined by means of cuts 2-63 so that a unitary package has thereby been formed.

After the installation of band 10 around pie plate 34, annular foot 31 is seen to have been formed from inwardly-projecting annular bead 31) at the lower edge of strip 26 and outwardly-projecting annular bead 16 at the lower edge of strip 14. Annular bead 12. is of substantially closed cross-section and is shaped so that it will cooperatively engage annular foot 31. Pie plates of the foregoing construction are stacked by placing them one above the other so that annular foot 31 of the upper unit fits on annular bead 12; of the next lower unit as shown in FIGURE 5. Pies stacked in this manner are easier to transport from the wagon to the store and within the store with much less trouble and damage to the contents than is possible with pie packages of the prior art. It is within the contemplation of my invention to use a discrete number of feet around the circumference of the outer band in place of the annular foot illustrated in the figures of this embodiment and those to be described subsequently.

FIGURE 2A is a cross-sectional view of a strip similar to that described above and illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The strips are formed in groups as shown in FIGURE 1 and are scored or similarly treated to permit easy separation into single bands as I have previously described. The outer band of FIGURE 2A is seen to comprise flat strips 14' and 26 which are glued or otherwise joined as shown at 15'. Substantially closed beads 12' are formed at the outer edges of fiat strips 14'. Bead 16 is formed as shown in the figure so that when the single outer bands are separated from each other along the scorings, a foot is formed of the double thick outwardly projecting bead 18-30. Inwardly-projecting flanges 28' are formed at the outer edges of strips 2% by folding the strip back upon itself as shown in the figure.

Display packages using the outer band of FIGURE 2A will nest one above the other and may be stacked as will be obvious from the following discussion. When the band is applied to a pie plate and is held closed by means of cuts similar to cuts 20 of FIGURE 1, bead 1630' forms an annular foot. The annular foot of a package fits over bead 12' of the next lower package. The upper package will not fall down on top of the lower package because the annular foot formed from bead 16'3tl is held closed by the joining cutouts 20.

Packages using the annular foot of FIGURE 2A may be nested with packages having other annular feet of my invention as long as the upper bead of the lower package nests in the annular foot of the package above.

In FIGURE 6 there is illu-stratedaa pie package of my invention for use with open or one crust pies. Outer band 40 is formed of strips 44 and 46 in a manner similar to that described above and is applied to pie plate 43 so that inwardly-projecting flange 48 engages outward flange 45 of pie plate43. Pie 54 is contained in pie plate 43 and comprises lower crust 55 and open top 56 (for example, a meringue). Annular foot 41 is formed in the same manner as annular foot 31 and closed annular head 42 is provided at the upper edge of strip 44. After band 40 has been applied to plate 43, sheet 58, which is similar to sheet 32, is laid over the top of bead 42. Next, strip 50, which has substantially closed annular bead 52 at its upper edge is placed around outer band 40 so that sheet 58 is held in position between beads 42 and 52. Beads 42 and 52 and foot 41 are in substantial vertical alignment so that units may be stacked one above the other by nesting annular foot 41 of the upper package on annular head 52 of the next lower package.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 there is illustrated a further embodiment of outer band of my invention for use in the packaging of open pies. Pie 54 is contained in pie plate 43 as in the embodiment of FIGURE 6 and first outer band 60 is placed around pie plate 43 and has its ends joined. At the upper edge of strip 60 the band is seen to have a substantially closed annular bead 64. Just below bead 64, there is seen inwardly-projecting lip 66 which engages outward flange 45 of pie plate 43. At the lower edge of strip 60 inwardly-projecting bead 62 is'seen. After band 60 is in place on the plate, sheet 58 is stretched over the top so that it overhangs head 64. Band 68 is positioned around band 60 so that sheet 58 is held in position between annular beads 64 and 70. When band 70 is in this position, outwardly-projecting head 72 together with inwardly-projecting head 62 form annular foot 74. Beads 70 and 64 and foot 74 are in substantial vertical alignment 'so that units may be stacked one.

above the other by nesting foot 74 of the upper package on annular bead 70 of the next lower package.

The package of FIGURE 9 is similar to that of FIG- URE 4. The annular foot 16'-30' has an outwardlyprojecting bead formed from the strip of FIGURE 2A. This embodiment is used for the packaging of two crust pie 36. Band 10 is placed around pie plate 34 so that inwardly turned flange 28' engages with outward flange 35 and is locked in position thereby. Sheet 32 is held in position between flanges 28' and 35. The endsof band 10' are joined by means of cuts similar to cuts 20 so that a unitary package has thereby been formed.

After the installation of bandlt) around pie plate 34, an annular foot is seen to have been formed from outwardly-projecting beads 16 and 30 at the lower edges of strips 14' and 26' respectively. The upper package will not fall down on top of the lower package because the annular foot formed from bead 16'30 is held closed by the cuts 20.

In FIGURE 10 there is illustrated a still further embodiment of my invention for use with one crust or open pies. Strip 50, which is the same as strip 56 shown in FIGURE 6, is used in conjunction with an outer band similar to that of FIGURE 9 except that the closed an- 42 rather than that of closed annular head 12'.

,4 1 nular bead 42 has the same shape as closed annular head The packages of FIGURE 10 are assembled and stacked in exactly the same manner as those of FIGURE 6.

It can be seen that pie packages of my invention may .be stacked interchangeably so long as the upper annular bead of the lower package and the annular foot of the lower package are of the same diameter and will nest together. I

While I have disclosed my invention in relation to specific examples and in specific embodiments, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of said plate, an outer band surrounding said plate, said outer band comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material joined to said first strip of material to form said outer band, said first strip and said second strip being coextensive in their longitudinal dimensions, an inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge ofsaid second strip, an inwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said second strip, an outwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said first strip, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together forming an annular foot, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said inwardly-turned annular flange on said second strip and said outward flange on said plate, said closed annular bead and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular head of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

2. A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of said plate, a first outer band surrounding said plate, said first outer band comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material joined to said first strip of material to form said first outer band, said first strip and said second strip being coextensive in their lon gitudinal dimensions, an inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge of said second strip, an inwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said second strip, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at thelower edge of said first strip, a substantially closed. annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together forming an annular foot, said inwardlyturned annular flange being locked in position in cooperation with said outward flange at the top of said plate, a second outer band surrounding said first outer band, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said second outer band, said substantially closed annular head on said second outer band and said annular foot being in substantial vertical alignment, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said first outer band and said second outer band by the substantially closed annular beads thereof, said closed annular bead on said second outer band and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular head on the second outer band of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

3. A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of said plate, a first outer band surrounding said plategsaid first'outer band comprising a strip of material, an inwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said strip of material, a substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of said strip of material, and an inwardly-projecting annular lip below said annular bead, a second outer band surroundin'gsaid first outer band, said second outer band comprising a second strip of material, an outwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said second strip of material, a substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of said second strip of material, said inwardly-projecting lip being locked in position in cooperation with said outward flange at the top of said plate, said first outer band and said second outer band being of such size that the substantially closed annular head of said second outer band is above the substantially closed annular bead of said first outer band and said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together form an annular foot, said substantially closed annular beads and said annular foot being in substantial vertical alignment, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said first outer band and said second outer band by the substantially closed annular beads thereof, said closed annular bead on said second outer band and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular head on the second outer band of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

4. A cover-holding and stacking band for flanged pie plate packages and the like comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material ailixed to said first strip of material, said first strip of material and said second strip of material being coextensive in their longitudinal dimensions, the combination of said two strips of material having its ends joined, an inwardly-turned annr'ar flange at the upper edge of said second strip engaging the flange of said pie plate, an inwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said second strip, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said first strip, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together forming an annular foot, said substantially closed annular bead and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the substantially closed annular head of the next lower packwhen said packages are stacked.

A cover-holding and stacking band for flanged pie plate packages and the like comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material afiixed to said first strip of material, said first strip and said second strip being coextensive in their longitudinal dimensions, the combination of said two strips of material having its ends joined, an inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge of said second strip engaging the flange of said pie plate, an inwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said second strip, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said first strip, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together forming an annular toot, a third strip of material having its ends joined surrounding the aforesaid combination of said first and second strips, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said third strip, said closed annular bead on said third strip and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular bead on the third strip of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

6. A cover-holding and stacking band for flanged pie plate packages comprising a first strip of material having its ends joined, an inwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edge of said first strip of material, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip of material, an inwardly-projecting annular lip below said annular bead engaging the flange of said pie plate, a second strip of material havin its ends joined outside of said first strip and in contact therewith, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said second strip of material, said inwardly-projecting annular bead and said outwardly-projecting annular bead together forming an annular foot, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said second strip of material, said substantially closed annular bead on said second strip of material and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests closed annular on the closed annular head on the second strip of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

'7. A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of said plate, an outer band surrounding said plate, said outer band comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material joined to said first strip of material to form said outer band, said first strip of material and said second strip of material being coextensive in their lon itudinal dimensions, an inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge of said second strip, an outwardlyprojecting annular head at the lower edges of both said first strip and said second strip forming an annular foot, 21 substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of said first strip of material, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said inwardly-turned annular flange on said second strip and said outward flange on said plate, said substantially closed annular bead and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular bead of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

8. A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of said plate, a first outer band surrounding said plate, said first outer band comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material joined to said first strip of material to form said first outer band, said first strip and said second strip being coextensive in their longitudinal dimensions, on inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge of said second strip, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edges of both said strips formin an annular foot, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, said inwardlyturncd annular flange being locked in position in cooperation with said outward flange at the top of said plate, a second outer band surrounding said first outer band, a substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of second outer band, said substantially closed annular band on said second outer band and said annular foot being in substantial vertical alignment, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said first outer band and said second outer band by the substantially closed annular beads thereof, said closed annular bead on said second outer band and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular head on the second outer band of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

i A package comprising a plate, an outward flange at the top of plate, a first outer band surrounding said plate, said first outer band comprising a strip of material, a substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of said strip of material and an inwardly-projecting annular lip below said annular head, a second outer band surroundm said first outer band, said second outer band comprising a second strip of material, an outwardlypro ecting annular head at the lower edge of said second strip of material, a substantially closed annular head at the upper edge of said second strip of material, said inwardly-projecting lip being locked in position in cooperation with said outward flange at the top of said plate, said first outer band and said second outer band being of such size that the substantially closed annular bead of said second outer band is above the substantially bead of said first outer hand and said outwardly-projecting annular bead forms an annular foot, said substantially closed annular beads and said annular foot beim in so stantial vertical alignment, a sheet overlaying said plate held in position between said first outer band and said second outer band by the substantially closed annular beads thereof, said closed annular bead on said second outer band and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular bead on the second outer band of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

i A cover-holding end stacking band for flanged pie plate packages and the like comprising a first strip of material, a second strip of material atfixed to said first strip of material, said first strip and said second strip being coextensive in their longitudinal dirnenswns, the combination of said two strips of material having its ends joined, an inwardly-turned annular flange at the upper edge of said second strip engaging the flange of said pie plate, an outwardly-projecting annular head at the lower edges of both said strips forming an annular foot, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip, a third strip of material having its ends joined surrounding the aforesaid combination of said first and second strips a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said third strip, said closed annular bead on said third strip and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular bead on the third s ip of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

11. A cover-holding and stacking band for flanged pie plate packages comprising a first strip of material having its ends joined, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said first strip of material, an inwardlyprojecting annular lip below said annular bead engaging the flange of said pie plate, a second strip of material having its ends joined outside of said first strip and in contact therewith, an outwardly-projecting annular bead at the lower edge of said second strip of material forming an annular foot, a substantially closed annular bead at the upper edge of said second strip of material, said substantially closed annular head on said second strip of material and said annular foot being shaped such that the annular foot of one package nests on the closed annular head on the second strip of the next lower package when said packages are stacked.

References @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,644 7/35 Donovan 220-97 2,068,540 1/37 Ehrlich 206-4532 2,100,858 11/37 Lenk 206-4532 2,133,607 10/38 Ehrlich 206-4532 2,146,719 2/39 Chaplin 206-4532 2,556,765 6/51 Magnesen 220-97 2,738,891 3/56 Pitto 220-97 2,93 8,637 5/60 Rutherford 220-97 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A PLATE, AN OUTWARD FLANGE AT THE TOP OF SAID PLATE, AN OUTER BAND SURROUNDING SAID PLATE, SAID OUTER BAND COMPRISING A FIRST STRIP OF MATERIAL, A SECOND STRIP OF MATERIAL JOINED TO SAID STRIP OF MATERIAL TO FORM SAID OUTER BAND, SAID FIRST STRIP AND SAID SECOND STRIP BEING COEXTENSIVE IN THEIR LONGITUDINAL DIMENSIONS, AN INWARDLY-TURNED ANNULAR FLANGE AT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SECOND STRIP, AN INWARDLY-POJECTING ANNULAR BEAD AT THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SECOND STRIP, AN OUTWARDLY-PROJECTING ANNULAR BEAD AT THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FIRST STRIP, A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED ANNULAR BEAD AT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST STRIP, SAID INWARDLY-PROJECTING ANNULAR BEAD AND SAID OUTWARDLY-PROJECTING ANNULAR BEAD TOGETHER FORMING AN ANNULAR FOOT, A SHEET OVERLAYING SAID PLATE HELD IN POSITION BETWEEN SAID INWARDLY-TURNED ANNULAR FLANGE ON SAID SECOND STRIP AND SAID OUTWARD FLANGE ON SAID PLATE, SAID CLOSED ANNULAR BEAD AND SAID ANNULAR FOOT BEING SHAPED SUCH THAT THE ANNULAR FOOT OF ONE PACKAGE NESTS ON THE CLOSED ANNULAR BEAD OF THE NEXT LOWER PACKAGE WHEN SAID PACKAGES ARE STACKED. 